KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, was sworn into office on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning after winning a special election for the 25th District.
Garcia took the oath of office on the House of Representatives floor, conducted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after winning the 25th Congressional District special election one week prior.
“I can think of no better way to serve this country, to serve our district, than to be here today taking this oath and doing the job before me,” Garcia said on the floor.
The now-congressman began by thanking his wife, Rebecca, and two children Preston and Jett, for being the “backbone of my survival and the spirit of the campaign for over a year.”
“I also want to thank the 715,000 people in California’s beautiful 25th Congressional District that helped me get here,” Garcia said. “It is a huge honor that has been bestowed upon me to represent you in this body. I do it with humility and hopefully performance that represents all of us in the 25th District.”
Garcia discussed being elected to Congress amid a global pandemic, calling for unity during this time of crisis.
“I show up today not only as a patriot but now a citizen legislator to make sure we do what’s right for our country first, to make sure that we do what’s right for my district that I represent, and hopefully get through this crisis as a solid, unified country,” Garcia said.
Congressman Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, served as dean for Pelosi, who was fulfilling her role as speaker, introduced Garcia in the swearing-in ceremony.
“The election, as I noted before, has not been certified by the Secretary of State, but there is no dispute about the result,” Sherman said.
In the special election, Garcia defeated Democratic Assemblywoman Christy Smith 15,000 votes, with the candidates set to face-off again in November.
See Related: Republican Mike Garcia Wins Runoff For CA-25 Congressional Seat, Smith Concedes
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, noted in the 230-year history of the United States less than 11,000 people have been a member of Congress.
“As a veteran, a businessman, a family man and a first-generation American, Mike has shown a driven approach to everything he’s taken,” McCarthy said.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy swearing-in Congressman Mike Garcia with his family.
The minority leader spoke about Garcia’s life as the son of immigrant parents calling it the “definition of America.”
“If you ever want a definition of America, look to Mike’s life,” McCarthy said. “The first generation, many like our fathers, mothers, grandparents wanted something better for our children, so they came to America,” McCarthy said.
The leader detailed Garcia’s steadfast goal to become a Navy pilot and the journey to get to that role.
“Mike dreamed at age six, that one day mauve he could become a Navy fighter pilot. He knows it would not be easy so he strived, applied himself and was nominated front he Naval Academy from this body itself,” McCarthy said, referencing former Congressman Buck McKeon’s nomination.
McCarthy then spoke upon Garcia’s next call to serve, after his time in the private sector as a defense contractor, running for Congress.
“Mike’s feat today is not something people just assumed,” McCarthy said. “He did it in a manner where an election was bigger than most people have thought, and they had to run these races in a crisis in America.”
Just under 38 percent of registered voters within the district participated in the special election runoff.
Garcia’s victory represents the first time that a Congressional seat from California flipped from Democrat to Republican control since 1998.
Smith and Garcia are set to go head-to-head one more time in November during the general election for the next term from 2021-2023.
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Amazing that Nasty Pelosi Can’t abide by The Oath of Office she read to Congressman Garcia.
Garcia should have requested that someone else read him The oath of office!
Congratulations Congressman Garcia!! I could tell from the moment I met you, in Walmart, that you were a exceptional man. You took the time, after getting off a call with the President Of the United States, to have a conversation with someone you had never met. I was the one to cut our conversation short because I felt you probably wanted to make some calls to let your family and campaign know President Trump had just informed you he was endorsing you. What an exiting moment! I have faith you will serve our district and country well. Thank you Sir!
Meh……Don’t get all excited, Chumpsters! Garcia already lost once to Christy Smith, and this was not a “normal” election, what with the run-off, very low voter turnout and the Corona Virus. In November, we’ll have a proper election, hopefully all this hoopla will die down by then, and we can have a better turnout at which time Christy Smith will win once again and begin her full term! Last thing we need here in SCV is a Chump Clone, and the people will decide how to deal with that!
Funny how most people from the left can’t comment without making degrading comments about those who oppose their views.
What a joke! If that’s not the pot calling the kettle black!! Just like the other day Chump actually said, “ people should do things for people, not for political gain”! Funniest thing he’s ever said! ……..wait a minute….he’s said SO many other funny things, no one can keep count! ? ? The only thing Chump has done FOR US is to provide ridiculous, free comedy for the last three years! (can never take him seriously!)
Another computer TOUGH GAL. Is your butch dyke wife feeding you this Anti American crap or do you just hate all men due to you wish you were born one ?
I would rather have someone looking out for our country than selling it out to foreign countries and compnies. It’s about time our Constitutional rights are upheld from the socialist nuts.. that is what is at stake here. I couldn’t believe the past policies that allowed our banks to be bought by China. Or our jobs sent overseas. Now look at the mess that created.
He is a trumpster! His third wife protested for the city to reopen . Heartless bitch .
Thank goodness! We need to reopen. Even Newsom went to Montana over Memorial weekend to get away from his own socialist policy. Wake up already. It’s about control not covid.
That was a rumor
Did he wear his pilot’s uniform? Hard to believe someone who touts his military service would be a Trump enabler.
Not hard to believe at all, because the military supports America. They know who is best for our country!
Jimmy, do you know who Captain Crozier is?
Trevor, why do you think Lisa is gay? And if she is or is not has NOTHING to do with this discussion. And accusing her of hating all men? WHAT?
Redneck.
See, that’s the disturbing mentality of some of the creeps around here! Don’t mind Trevor the Troll! He’s an angry putz who just looks for fights! There’s a few of them here unfortunately. They need to get a life! But you know they never will. Tiny mentality to try to compensate for having a widdo pencil stub! ?
Yeah we’ll this troll is protecting the freedom both of you have taken for granted . Respect our Veterans of leave this country .
I certainly don’t want any illiterate person trying to “protect” me who can’t even compose a sentence correctly! You should go back in your hole! Begone!
(who even said anything negative about our vets anyway?!)
What a mental case! ? Think you forgot your meds again! And quit picking fights, Troll! It’s all you do here!
My dad was a vet, geniusTrevor. I defended Lisa, who needed defending. You don’t know me at all.
Congratulations Congressman Garcia! Thank you for representing us. This area has been changing with all the building and not for the better. We like our safe neighborhoods that’s why people move here but with that comes the crazy liberal ideas. We need to take our state back from lunatics like Newsom. Strength to you sir. Congrats!
LOL! This area has been changing with all the building since forever! When populations increase like SCV has, demographics shift this way and that, and naturally you get everything that comes with that! Just ask Palmdale and Lancaster about it! A wasteland turned into a metropolis! It’s not a ‘liberal’ problem, like you wanna try to label it! It’s just a PEOPLE thing! Happens everywhere, in case you don’t realize that! No reason to politicize it! Newsom is a lunatic? Betcha he runs for president in 2024! No one is as much of a lunatic as the Bozo whose in there now!! ?